Catholics the world over are celebrating after watching the white smoke over the Vatican signaling the ascension of Robert F. Prevost to the papacy.
Prevost, 69, who will now be known as Pope Leo XIV, is a native of Chicago making him the first American to hold the title.
Not only is the pope a cultural and religious figure, but the office carries tremendous political influence with the estimated 1.406 billion members of the Catholic faith across the world.
Augusta has a large Catholic community and several local leaders who belong to the Catholic faith have offered their thoughts on the historic occasion.
Retired Chief Superior Court Judge Danny Craig, who serves as a deacon at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, says he believes the momentous event is likely going to have historic repercussions for the next several centuries.
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‘This was more than just an election, it was a hand-crafted product by the cardinals to create a legacy within the apostalic church. This was a critically important election. It was amazing,” Craig said.
Marcie Wilhelmi, chairperson of the Augusta Charter Review Committee is a member of St. Mary’s on the Hill says the timing and Prevost’s lifetime of training and service were aligned to usher in an American to the position. According to Wilhelmi, for 400 years, the Italians held the position, but that grip loosed in the latter part of the 20th Century. The trend ended with the election of Pope John Paul II, who was Polish, Pope Benedict from Germany and Francis from Argentina.
“Pope Leo the 14th is well positioned to take on a worldwide position. Born in Chicago, trained in Rome and at Augustinian-sponsored Villanova University in Pennsylvania, he served many years in Peru. All of that adds up to someone fairly qualified to lead the 1.5 billion Catholics in our world,” Wilhelmi said.
Columbia County District Attorney Bobby Christine was born into the Catholic faith, and he joins his fellow parishioners in celebrating Leo the 14th’s election.
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“His selection illustrates the universality of the Catholic Church. I join other Christians worldwide praying for him and the faithful shepherding of all believers,” Christine said.
Local historian Hubert van Tuyll may not be a Catholic, but he is able to offer some perspective on how the history books will mark the occasion as a political event.
“I have read that the Vatican has avoided an American pope in part because of the global influence the United States wields. So, maybe the Vatican sees that as declining. Then again, the College of Cardinals may have wished to continue Francis’ legacy, but perhaps in a different way that is more acceptable to Francis’ opponents in the church.
“Prevost has been openly critical of the Trump-Vance administration, and the fact he was named pope after only four votes suggests that, at the very least, the Church is not bothered by his uttering those criticisms,” van Tuyll said.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter, Editorial Page Editor and weekly columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
